Session 7: AP Part 1

We played session 7 tonight and had a blast.

Following on from last session the group has cut a bloody swathe through the old dwarven fortress. They push on bursting into the next section expecting to find the guards unawares. They are unpleasantly surprised to find them quite ready, a barricade in place and an ogre brute and some raiders crashing into their flank.

The fight is short, ugly and violent. The guards are routed and the ogre slain but two of their enemies flee further into the complex. Paldemar must be aware of their presence by now and the clock is ticking on his arrival. They push further inside looking for Murklemor’s chamber only to find him waiting with more raiders. Morn and Azhanti form ranks in the doorway which lets the Captain take pot shots at both of them with his sweeping halberd. Azhanti is up and down like a yo-yo but eventually the captain falls. During the battle crossbowmen try to pin them down from behind but are stymied by Assamber and Artemis.

Spending a moment to get their breath they try to decide where to hit next. They have enemies behind them holed up in a guard post and the dwarven slaves ahead of them with Paldemar’s apprentice. Focusing on the goal they push forward. The sorceress is prepared for them and brings her corrupted earth elementals to bear. Artemis gets surrounded but dances away across a slave pit on the heads of the dwarves. Morn has the fight of his life surrounded by multiple enemies but this leaves the others free to focus on the Sorceress. Things are dicey as she warps their perceptions with mind altering magic and sears their flesh with fire and brimstone. Heedless of her servants lives she catches them in her own spells. Things look grim for a while with Artemis near death while being pressed by a guard and Azhanti blind and knocked into a slave pit but they pull through.

They capture the Sorceress and throw her guards to the dwarves. She tries to plead for her life but hesitates at the wrong moment so Morn caves in her skull. A quick bit of investigation reveals the remaining guards have fled. Paldemar will arrive shortly and they must decide what to do, stay and face him or escape with the prisoners. They come up with a cunning plan!

Azhanti dons the Hat of Disguise they found on the doppelganger and uses the speaking stone they found in Murkelmor’s chamber. The others lay about the room spattered with blood and gore. They convince Paldemar that his guards have defeated the group and seized many interesting items. Intrigued Paldemar tells them he will arrive shortly.

The group decide to ambush him and many different locations are considered. Finally they decide on the chamber where he will arrive. Azhanti and Morn take up position inside with Artemis and Assamber in adjoining chambers. In a burst of magic Paldemar arrives but he is not alone, two memory stealing void spectres are with him and they begin to suck minds with gusto. It is all in vain however, Paldemar, trapped in a confined space surrounded by enemies with no room to bring his magic to bear cannot withstand the assault and is soon slain. Assamber takes his Staff as a trophy and the group head off to their rendezvous with Rothaar.